Floor block



Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED" STATES 4lafrlaz-lai OFFICE My invention relates to blocks of the type laid or assembled to form parquet and other figured floors, and more particularly to the method of joining the strips or boards forming components of the block, and my main object is to provide an exceedingly simple device for this purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tie device kfor the strips or boards which exerts a iirm grip on the same to keep them together.

Another object of the invention is to form the tie device with teeth along its entire course, in order that the strips or boards may be engaged or anchored by the device in a great many places and lend the grip a maximum area.

An important object of the invention is to produce the same very inexpensively.

With the above objects in view and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the in- 2O vention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a floor block assembly incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a oor block 25 in which the tie device is indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a front edge View 0f the block;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental enlargement of the left hand portion of Fig. 3; and

30 Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Floor blocks of the types under consideration are composed of a number of strips or boards which are tted together like common flooring.

35 While the assembly of blocks in a oor may be Well fitted, various factors such as the settling of the building, strains on the floor, and tendencies to warp the same often create room for the slight spacing or shifting of the blocks or the expansion 40 thereof by the separation of their sections. While the expansion of the blocks produces no harm, it is apparent that the cracks formed by the separation of some of their sections not only form receptacles for water and dirt tending to 45 damage the oor, but also weaken the blocks because of their tendency to disintegrate. It has therefore been my intention to so bind the sections of each block that they cannot separate to produce the undesirable effects mentioned.

50 In accordance with the foregoing specific reference to the drawing denotes a typical block oor layout at II), the blocks` being formed by the assembly of strips or boards II in the manner of conventional flooring. The laying of the blocks 55. is facilitated by forming them with the joining tongues i2 of their outer sections on the sides; and the ends of the block are formed with the conventional joining groove I 3.

It is my intention to employ the Zone of the joining groove I3 for the application of the novel 5 tie device, and for this purpose I extend such groove from the bottom with a narrower one indicated at I. The cross-sectional dimensions of this groove are such as to form a snug receptacle for a threaded rod I5 which is deposited in the 10 groove I4. The deposit of the rod I5 is accompanied by pressure, so that the threads thereof not only irictionally engage the sides of the groove I4 but actually cut or'embed themselves into the bottom of the groove, as suggested in 15 Fig, 5. The application oi the rod is by a suitable press, and the work is facilitated when the rods at both ends of the block are applied by the press at one time.

It will be evident that the tie device formed by the rod I5 is primarily of exceeding simplicity as compared with other devices which may be applied for clamping or gripping purposes, as threaded rods are stock material and need only be sawed off to the required length to be suitable for the present purpose. Secondly, the rod may be the cheapest variety of wrought iron stock, as it can make the proper engagement with the ends of the block and last indeiinitely without having been hardened or otherwise treated.

Thirdly, the threaded rod has its threads or gripping elements throughout its length, so that it employs its entire length for application to the block and presents a maximum number of teeth to grip the sections thereof. Thus, with the tie rod pressed as described it forms a powerful binder for the block sections, retaining them permanently against separation. Finally, the novel tie device is of a character to be cheaply produced and applied, and may be depended upon to last the life of the floor without requiring any attention or repair.

While I have described the invention along specic lines, various minor changes and rennements may be made without departing from its principle, and I desire to consider al1 such changes and renernents as coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a block of assembled flooring sections provided at one edge with a common tongue receiving groove open laterally between the top and bottom faces of the block; of a threaded rod seated in the groove with the threads of said rod imbedded in at least the walls of the groove to hold the sections against separation, said rod being positioned inwardly of said edge of said block to provide a tongue receiving space in said groove outwardly of said rod.

2. The combination with a block of assembled ooring sections provided at one edge with a common tongue receiving groove open laterally between the top and bottom faces of the block; of a threaded rod seated in the groove with the threads of said rod imbedded in at least the base of the groove to hold the sections against separation, said rod being positioned inwardly of said edge of said block to provide a tongue receiving space in said groove outwardly of said rod.

3. 'I'he combination with a block of assembled ooring sections provided at one edgewith a common tongue receiving groove open laterally between the top and bottom faces of the block; of a second laterally opening groove opening into the base of said first groove intermediate the walls thereof, and a threaded rod seated in said second groove with the threads of said rod imbedded in the walls and base of said second groove to hold the sections against separation.

WILLIAM A. F. BOET'I'CHER. 

